Christians need to be involved in politics, the Archbishop of York has said.

It would be “absurd” to suggest that there are some areas of God’s world that are out of bounds to Him, Dr John Sentamu said.

In a message in The Mail on Sunday newspaper he writes: “Faith centred on Jesus Christ insists that concern for others’ wellbeing means political involvement (that is the deliberation and participation in how we are to be governed). That annoys some politicians and their supporters who want a monopoly over public affairs.

“When they pillory bishops and others for daring to invade the territory hitherto regarded as their private preserve, they are suggesting there are some areas of God’s world that are out of bounds to Him. That is as absurd as it sounds.

“God is creator of the Cosmos and that includes the Palace of Westminster and the White House. There are followers of Jesus Christ in all the main political parties in the UK. It is not for me to tell their fellow church members how to vote next month, but I will encourage them to use their vote.”

The Archbishop said that Christians are not excused suffering, and in many parts of the world are at greater risk because of their faith.

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu during the Easter baptisms outside York Minster as part of the Easter celebrations.

“In the midst of all this is the virtue of Christian hope, which comes from the contagious conviction that death, grim as it may be, is actually the prelude to something else. A comma, not a full stop, a pause, not the end.”

His comments came as he performed his now traditional open-air Easter baptisms, saying the water was “much warmer than normal”.

But some of the candidates who took part in the total immersion ceremony outside York Minster today did not agree with Dr John Sentamu’s analysis of the water temperature in the tank.

Christopher Pillai said: “When I first went in it was absolutely freezing and I thought ‘this may not end well’.”

I’m relatively new to the faith. Before then I was a little bit lost. It’s transformed my life.

His brother Christian Pillai said: “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is to get up from there and smile at everyone.”

He said: “I’m relatively new to the faith. Before then I was a little bit lost. It’s transformed my life.

“Everything is more upbeat, everything is a lot better. This is a public declaration of my thanks, my gratitude and my love.”